Gemini is taking over Google TV - in a good way

Google has been a fierce competitor in the AI space with its Gemini assistant, which powers its chatbot and voice assistant on devices. Now, the company is infusing Gemini into Google TV to level up your home entertainment.

Google Assistant replacement

Google's releases at CES 2025 are focused on improving your Google TV experience. One of the biggest updates is the integration of Gemini capabilities on Google TV. This will replace Google Assistant with a much more capable voice assistant, which will help the assistant better understand your requests and provide better assistance.

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With the upgrade, you'll now be able to speak to it more seamlessly, using natural language and conversing with Google TV without needing to say "Hey Google," and using conversational queries to find what you are looking for. For example, in the demo below, the user asked to see movies like Jurassic Park, but for kids. Gemini was able to understand what they meant and provide options.

Ask more complex queries

Users can also now ask more complex queries you typically wouldn't ask the Google Assistant on Google TV. For example, in a demo, the user asked, "Tell me about the solar system for a third grader," and "Help me plan a vacation spot with great beaches." In both instances, Gemini was able to quickly generate the answer and display it on the TV, presented in the same way as the photo above.

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Related YouTube videos will also accompany Gemini answers, since when looking for something on TV, you are likely looking for visual content over standard web text content. You will also be able to use your voice to create AI-generated screensavers and to control your smart home devices more easily.

Hardware upgrades

Beyond software, Google also plans to work with partners to upgrade some hardware that further optimizes a user's Google TV experience. For example, upcoming Google TVs will have far-field microphones built in so that you can more easily converse and interact with your TV without needing to speak into a remote.

If you enjoy having your TV on at all times of the day, Google also plans to bring a new ambient experience. Google is developing an on-screen hub that senses when you're approaching the TV to show you personalized and informative widgets, which could include the weather, news stories you are interested in, or information from your calendar, as seen in the image above.

The sensor also helps bring other experiences to life, such as displaying art when a user isn't using the TV but is in its vicinity or turning the TV off entirely when nobody is in the room. All the features seem to be centered around making your interactions with your TV more seamless and incorporating it into your daily life more than just watching content.